By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
Never has the value of a pound of garbage been so debated by so few.
Trying to iron out the details of a proposed contract for City of Burlington garbage and recycling pickup, the Common Council disagreed on the finer points of what that pickup should include Tuesday night.
A straw poll of the members of the council showed that most wanted to keep the current system, with a 96-gallon, twice-a-month recycling pickup, plus unlimited garbage pickup.
The contract with John’s Disposal will be about $400,000 – $30,000 cheaper that the current contract with Veolia – in spite of the fact that it creates more work. The city agreed to go with John’s Disposal (based in Whitewater and the Town of Norway) earlier this year, but was still trying to finish the details on the contract.
The basic disagreements between council members Tuesday night came from whether the city should go with conformity – with 96-gallon, automated recycling and garbage pickup with a once-monthly bulk pickup – or keep the current set up.
“It’s the main part of our business,” Brian Jongetjes of John’s, who was at the meeting Tuesday, said. “We bid municipal contracts. We were invited to bid.”
Jongetjes said the company is committed to personal, quality service.
However, the majority of the City Council struggled with the larger size of the garbage containers – and the fact that citizens would be committed to using basically that one size.
Given that the city could have another $30,000 knocked off the price if it kept the current method of collection – albeit with a different provider – several alderman wondered why they should change.
Alderman Tom Preusker asked if it would be cheaper, and advocated the lower prices. He was also concerned that not all of his garbage would fit into the 96-gallon bin.
“Why am I paying more for more inconvenience?” he asked.
City Administrator Kevin Lahner said the city would be paying less than it is currently paying, though more than the minimum it could under John’s.
“I also think it’s a hassle thing,” Preusker said, saying people won’t want to keep track of what weeks are recycling and bulk pickup times.
Alderman Bob Prailes agreed, but Alderman Jon Schultz thought the new plan offered some advantages.
“I really don’t like (piles of garbage),” Schultz said. “I like the cans. I think it’ll clean things up a little bit more.”
Preusker argued that the contract would result in bulk garbage being at the curb longer, since that type of garbage would be picked up just once a month. Jongetjes said that the dates would coincide with the regular garbage pickup, but on a specific week of the month. If a homeowner wanted to have an extra pickup, it would be $38.
The alderman also discussed whether bulk pickup was needed.
“I think the bulk pickup is a necessity,” said Alderman Tom Vos.
All garbage will still be collected at the curb.
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